Joe Duffy presents a live and lively show, exploring spiritual and ethical issues in today's Ireland

Joe Duffy

Joe Duffy returns with a new run of the series Spirit Level, a chat show with a vibrant mix of topical discussion, engaging interviews and features. This series will reflect the energy and diversity in contemporary Irish religious and spiritual life. This time round the addition of a studio audience will add greatly to the broad range of topics under discussions. No topic is more emotionally charged than that of death and as part of RTÉ One's ONCE IN A LIFETIME season on the Irish way of death, programme one deals with the subject in a frank and open manner.

The members of Joe's panel deal on a daily basis with issues around death in their own personal and professional lives. They navigate their way through the journey of death and grief, which for some can be daunting and frightening and for others rewarding and comforting.

Episode One

Death & The Afterlife - Sunday 16th November at 5.00pm on RTÉ OneNo topic is more emotionally charged than that of death. In Programme 1 of Joe Duffy's Spirit Level, the subject is dealt with in a frank and open manner. The members of Joe's panel deal on a daily basis with issues around death in their own personal and professional lives. They navigate their way through the journey of death and grief, which for some can be daunting and frightening and for others rewarding and comforting.

In Part One of the programme, Joe talks for Fr Brian D'Arcy about his life and times, and in part 2 he discusses death and the afterlife with his panel. The panel is:

Lorraine Whyman - A young woman with incurable brain cancer who recently married the love of her life. She has been told that she may have only two years to live.

Fr Pierce Cormac - the Chaplain to the Mercy Hospital Cork who was also involved in comforting relatives of the victims of the Union Hall drowning tragedy...

4. Tom Inglis - a Sociologist in UCD, Tom has written about the death of his wife and son in his book Making Love.

We also have a film report from Temple Street Children's Hospital, where reporter Pádraig O'Driscoll talks to two parents about how they coped when their children died.

EPISODE 2 - 23 NOV 2014

Joe Duffy talks to Eilish O'Carroll, the much loved Winnie McGoogan of Mrs Brown's Boys, about love, life and rosary beads. In Part 2, Joe and his panel discuss the phenomenon of the pilgrimage. Lourdes, Fatima, Knock, The Camino or the River Ganges – what is the enduring draw of these sacred places? Also, Pádraig O'Driscoll reports from Knock on the business side of apparitions and pilgrimages.

EPISODE 3 - 30 NOV 2014

Joe Duffy talks to Pádraig Ó Céidigh, entrepreneur and former CEO of Aer Arann, about community, leadership and his relationship with God. In Part 2, Joe and his panel discuss the ancient theory of the Just War. From World War One to current day wars in the Middle East, belligerents have asserted the justice of their cause. But can it ever be right to kill on the battlefield? Also, Pádraig O'Driscoll reports on Fr Willie Doyle, a Jesuit Priest and Chaplain who died in the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917.